Workshops

Describe your perfect day to me. What does it look like? What does it include? Who does it include?

I’m pretty easy. I enjoy a day doing and talking about things I love, and doing and talking about them with like-minded people. I enjoy pretty things. I enjoy a lot of coffee, and I enjoy the occasional glass of bubbly.

Saturday at the Potting Room in Sandy Bay (a mere 1.5km from my house, walking distance even for Hobart) was the perfect amalgamation of all of these things.

After Meg’s demonstarations in the shed, we headed back up into the warmth (courtesy of the aforementioned adorable potbelly wood heater) to start stitching, tying and folding our own shibori creations — and LUNCH.

As well as being an amazing architect and stylist, it turns out Natasha also harbours an incredible talent for cooking. I had a bit of inkling thanks to that delicious morning tea orange and almond cake — which I still have yet to attempt myself — but holy cow; as the food was brought up to the…

I’m in love! I’m in love. I’m in love with the art of shibori. Also with a house.

If you follow the ‘Spoon on Snapchat or Instagram you’ve probably already seen a few shibori- and house-themed snaps and posts over the last week, and I’m sure you can see where my love has stemmed from.

Last weekend I mini-road-tripped up to Oak and Monkey Puzzle to learn the art of shibori from dyeing extraordinaire Margaret-Anne Gooch, who also turned out to be one of the sweetest people ever! The workshop was put together and hosted by the equally sweet Natasha…

This here, right now — this is my absolute favourite time of year. As well as the warm and cosy clothes I’ve waxed lyrical about before, June means Dark Mofo winter festival season in Hobart. The city turns red, the art spills out onto the streets, and I get an excellent excuse to visit.

This year I had double the excuse, thanks to Bec from Thirteen Red Shoes! She teamed up with Sydney-based paper guru Laura Jane to bring her skills (and her person) down to Hobart for a day of paper cutting, great company, and super tasty treats.

If there’s one thing I really love about Melbourne, it’s the sheer amount of opportunities the city holds for learning, and making, and doing. I’ve mentioned my particular affinity for dabbling before, and the more new things I learn the more I want to learn. More! MORE! Luckily, last weekend I was given the opportunity to sate my learning appetite by going along to The Middle Aisle’s macrame workshop, hosted by owner/creator/macrame extraordinaire Maggie May (which, let’s face it, would make an amazing superhero name on alliteration alone. Wade Wilson? Matt Murdock? Jessica Jones? Maggie effin’ May.)

You know how sometimes things just all line up and work out perfectly? The stars align and everything falls into place?

Dividing my time between Vic and Tas is actually pretty fun — I get to fly around lots, which is less glamourous than it sounds — but it can be tricky to arrange events around jet-setting. Usually when I spot something cool coming up I’m inevitably in the wrong state at the wrong time.

But not this time!

I’ve been a huge fan of Dearna’s food and photography over on her blog To Her Core for a long while now, and…

Please excuse me if I’m a little giddy and all over the place. I seem to have creative juices flowing out of every orifice and I don’t quite know what to do with them all.

Last Saturday I was invited to attend Paperlicious: a full day of crafting, eating and chatting, all put together by the absolutely brilliant Magdalena of Unleash Creative, and I’m still buzzing. It was a day combining all of my most favourite things, and I was on pins and needles all week waiting for the days to crawl by.